Ryan McBride/Staff photographer
A tree removal worker is seen operating a bucket high above Main Street in South Berwick as tree removal began Tuesday for new road construction.

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — A $2.24 million road renovation project began this week on Route 236 from the Pan Am Railroad tracks to Main Street.

Route 236 will have drainage piping and existing road surface replaced, and curbing along the road will be installed. In the course of the project 10 trees will be removed and four utility poles will be relocated to allow the highway to be widened.

Precautionary signs for motorists have been posted due to this week's tree removal by Urban Tree Service of Rochester, N.H.

Major delays are expected in the renovation zone during construction time. For additional precautionary measures, flaggers will be assisting traffic in certain areas when needed.

The second phase of the project, expected to begin in July, involves a two-inch “mill and fill” of a section from Main Street south to the New Hampshire state line on Route 4. This process involves the removal of existing pavement and replacing it with new asphalt.

Northeast Earth Mechanics of Pittsfield, N.H., is the general contractor for the project and set an anticipated deadline for Aug. 17, weather dependent.

“Rain could back the project up. Anytime paving is involved, you have weather and temperature elements that are crucial for the timeline,” Ted Talbot, spokesman for Maine Department of Transportation, said.

Downtown roadwork will be done mostly at night to create the least disruption.

“We are trying to minimize the impacts to business as much as we can,” Talbot said.

Town Manager Perry Ellsworth intends to reach out to the Route 236 residents who are in the major construction zone. He encourages residents to sign up for email alerts on the town website for updates on the project.

“We have about 13,000 vehicles passing through this area of the project a day. We may have to seek alternative routes. I intend to keep the public updated,” Ellsworth said.

The project is being funded by a combination of federal, state and local government funds, according to Ellsworth.